How to Write Headlines That Get Read

Create Headlines That Will Compel Your Audience to Want to Know More

Is your content producing the results you would like to see?

Would like your audience to recommend your articles, video and social media posts?

It may be time to revisit your headlines and discover which ones are reaching your readers the most. According to Copyblogger only two out of ten people will read the rest of your article after seeing what it’s about. Bottom line — if it’s not compelling enough you could be losing valuable subscribers.

An attention-getting headline will capture the reader’s attention right away and compel them to want to find out more. Clear, concise, and original content is important, but words that appeal to their emotions is the magic ingredient to giving your visitors a reason to want to diver deeper.

Getting to know your market is the first step to creating great titles. Generic copy just doesn’t get noticed any more. It pays to know exactly what attracts your audience and why. When crafting your content keep these points in mind:

• Let the reader know right away what the topic is about

• Don’t mislead or trick people into reading a blog post that is completely different

When your brand offers a personalized approach you will also be much more effective in reaching them on their level. People want to know that you care as well as understand their pressing needs. By creating very specific and targeted titles in your content you are making your readers feel that the article is about them, which will improve your subscriber rate.

In order to capture more readers keep in mind the following strategies:

1. Keep your headlines simple

As mentioned before you will want to avoid using too many words, and choose instead a clear, concise, and simple description that your audience will understand. Many of your readers are using their mobile devices and you will want to keep this in mind. Catchy phrases are very effective in getting their attention, such as these examples:

“This is Why Your Business Isn’t Making Money”

“Only 2 out of 20 Employees Know How to Ask for a Raise”

“I Couldn’t Stop Crying When I Read This Diet Story”

2. Improve weak copy with uncommon words

Phrases that are used often online blend into the thousands of other blog posts often seen in your email junk folder. You’ve seen headlines like these before:

“Start a Business Today”

“Be Your Own Boss”

Not only do these appear like spam — they can be a real turn-off for the reader. Go beyond the sales message and write titles that present their problem in a unique way:

“These Sales Statistics Will Make You Sing”

“Your Fitness Will Never Be the Same”

3. Ask questions

People love to share their opinions, which is why polls are now so common — especially on social media. Asking your audience’s opinion will engage them in the content and provide valuable insights you can use in your business. For instance, ask questions like:

“Can You Guess…”

“Are You Afraid…”

“What Would You Do If…”

4. Give them a reason to read your article

A simple “read this” or “how to” won’t generate much of a response. Instead, provide a specific number and why such as:

“10 Things You Should…”

“This is Why Your…”

“5 Reasons Why You…”

“This is How to Fail at…”

5. Provide a deadline or timeline

When people read a specific date they naturally want to find more about the event. This can work for a historical reference as well as something coming in the future.

By providing a deadline they will be more likely to read about why they should take action:

“Get These Video Secrets Before…”

“How Social Media Has Changed From…”

“Do This by ___ And”

As you follow these guidelines you can take your content to the next level and start experiencing more interactions and shares on social media. While RSS feeds are still available, less people are subscribing to these — it’s more important than ever that your blog posts get seen above the mundane copy that is often produced.

Catchy titles can go a long way in building the right audience for your brand as well as getting seen in search results.

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Who is Susan Gilbert? – I’m a small dog addict, miniature horse owner, online marketing maniac, bestselling author, and eHow video contributor who’s been working online since 1999. I guess that makes me an old timer who is learning new tricks every day!